With just 11 hectares of vineyards, Laherte Frères is a ‘grower-producer’ in scale and philosophy though they’re technically classified as a négociant-manipulant because they buy a very small amount of fruit from an uncle’s 2-hectare vineyard, which they farm yet don’t technically own. The estate has been in the Laherte family since 1889 and is now run by Aurélien Laherte, who farms his vines organically biodynamically, and is fanatical about vinifying individual vineyard parcels separately. He loves Pinot Meunier, so he decided to feature this grape exclusively in his Brut Rosé, which is made in an unusual way. 60% was direct press and fermented as Blanc de Noirs, 30% macerated on the skins as brut rosé and 10% made as a straight red wine (most rosé Champagnes only opt for one of these methods of production), all done in barriques and foudres. Racy and rich but vibrantly fresh, this crazy pink wine is full of of wild cherry, salty plum, cranberry and black pepper, finishing with a sharp streak of chalky minerality and intense acidity.